While traveling through Colorado's breathtaking San Juan Mountains, we discovered a young bull moose (he had a twin was nearby) quietly grazing along the banks of the Animas River just outside Silverton. Rather than moving on, we stood in silence for over an hour, watching them wander through the lush grasses, occasionally lifting their heads to study us before returning to their peaceful meal.

The gentle curve of this young bull's developing antlers hints at the magnificent animal he will one day become, but in this moment he embodies the quiet innocence of youth. Surrounded by vibrant summer grasses and the gentle flow of the river, he seems completely at home in a landscape that has remained wild for generations.